advmame revisited

[shorthair]

Okay, I've messed around with advmame, again. I used both a PC and an arcade monitor, and in either case, to get the image to be sharp, I had to set the resize effect to something other than the default (which is 'auto', and makes it look cartoonish); often 'no' or 'max'. Both looked good, although, of the available effects, I only liked the hscan2, and only on the PC.

For those who've seen the results of both advmame and the avga, how do they compare? How do both of these compare with 'switch resolutions to fit' in mame?  (For example, when comparing Moon Patrol, advmame and mame32 (with 'switch') look very similar.)

[ahofle]

You shouldn't be using direct3d with an arcade monitor (nor any 'effects').  You want directdraw with 'no hardware stretch' and 'switch resolutions to fit'.  Use "-video ddraw -nohws -switchres" if using command line mame.  Those are the 3 settings you must have in MAME to get pixel accurate video.  Refresh timings are another matter, but it sounds like you just want the video to look correct.  The arcadevga certainly makes it easier since the low resolutions are built into the card.  Your other option is to use powerstrip and hope your video card is compatible.

[shorthair]

Advmame has its own effects, which I think are the same as those in the newer video scheme mame.  I was just trying them out with both monitors. If wanting pixel perfect display ith the arcade monitor, I do mame as you suggested, and it looks very similar to advmame. I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience; and also if these appear at least similar to the visual result of the avga. ?

As for powerstrip, when I start it, it suddenly turns everything my computer displays into dayglo rainbow colors. I have to restart the computer to reset this, so I haven't messed with it, since. I'm assuming powerstrip will somehow allow the games to fill the screen more than mame with 'switch' selected or advmame, yes?

[ahofle]

Advmame has its own effects, which I think are the same as those in the newer video scheme mame.  I was just trying them out with both monitors. If wanting pixel perfect display ith the arcade monitor, I do mame as you suggested, and it looks very similar to advmame. I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience; and also if these appear at least similar to the visual result of the avga. ?

Oh OK, sorry I misunderstood -- I thought you said you couldn't get the picture to look sharp on the arcade monitor without effects.  I may have to try out advmame and see for myself.  I still can't imagine any effects would make a picture on an arcade monitor look any better than '-video ddraw -nohws -switchres'.

As for powerstrip, when I start it, it suddenly turns everything my computer displays into dayglo rainbow colors. I have to restart the computer to reset this, so I haven't messed with it, since. I'm assuming powerstrip will somehow allow the games to fill the screen more than mame with 'switch' selected or advmame, yes?

I'm not sure it would help with screen stretching to fit better on an arcade monitor -- that is done on the monitor itself (V.SIZE etc).  It's my understanding that powerstrip just allows you to use the lower authentic resolutions and timings with your normal PC video card.  Apparently not all cards are supported though.  It basically allows you to turn your video card into an ArcadeVGA card (which already has the low arcade resolutions built in).

[Grasshopper]

From what I've read, the DOS and Linux versions of AdvMAME give you much more control over the display. The trouble with Windows is that it prevents programs from accessing the hardware directly.

I've used the DOS version of AdvMAME and the results were awesome, far better than any other version of MAME I've tried.

[Silver]

If you are lucky enough to be running advmame from dos/linux with a compatible gfx card on an arcade monitor, then you pretty much have a display "as good as it gets" - as in most authentic.

I have no idea about effects, I assume they would unnecessary on an arcade monitor. hscan2 etc.. sounds like stuff for PC monitors to simulate the look of an arcade monitor - not needed if you have the real deal.


If you are using windows version of advancemame - how are you using it? SDL libary or the "SVGAwin" library. If the SDL library, then there is no point - may as well use MAME / SDLMAME.

If SVGAwin library (and its working) then I assume you have a geforce or whatever that actually works, as I have never ever got windows advancemame working - it is HIGHLY incompatible with most gfx cards.

[shorthair]

The only sdl thing I see in the folder is a dll.  Alternately, there's a system file and a exe for svgawin (I keep thinking Gawain when I see that).  Does that answer that question?

DOS doesn't seem to work on my computer. (This may sound weird; but I asked my dad, who's a programmer from the old days, to help me and we couldn't get anything to 'run'.) As for Linux, I haven't had a fresh computer to explore that with. Perhaps you Linux users would be gracious enough to post some pics of your monitors, if you think they would be telling?

If SVGAwin library (and its working) then I assume you have a geforce or whatever that actually works, as I have never ever got windows advancemame working - it is HIGHLY incompatible with most gfx cards

Well, I'm waiting on a new computer, so I've just been fussing around with the integrated Intel graphics. What do you mean exactly by 'not getting it working'?